Resources for Decolonising Yoga, Genuine Inclusivity, Body Positivity.
By Rebecca Andrews
Here at The Way of Yin we’re feeling the current climate is urgently calling for evolutionary steps to deconstruct systems of oppression. Whether that is systemic racism, ableism, homophobia, ecocide or white privilege. Any journey towards the liberation of self involves clear seeing. Meeting reality as it is.
Here we say ‘we like to disrupt the myth that yoga has to look a certain way’ which means we advocate for identifying barriers to inclusion and encourage action to break down those barriers in a culturally sensitive way. We advocate for body positivity , we’d like to encourage our teachers in creating safe spaces to dismantle body shame and begin the process of understanding how dominant societal structures generate systemic trauma through processes of ingrained prejudice, bias and marginalisation. Becoming aware of not only how we may be unknowingly complicit, but also how we may be suffering from it.
We are still learning, questioning and evolving ourselves, these resources are a work in progress, updated when we find further important resources. If you can share some great resources or have some constructive feedback for us on how our actions can further align with our values, contributing to equity, healing and respect for all beings, we welcome that.
‘If we examine our motivations and find they are rooted in understanding, compassion and altruism, then our practice is not only compatible with our activism, it fortifies it.’
Manoj Dias
Yogi's Raising Awareness on Important Issues in the Yoga Industry
https://www.corageroux.com/podcast
https://www.yogaisdeadpodcast.com/links
https://www.yogajournal.com/teach/every-yoga-teacher-yogi-needs-diversity-training
https://www.yogaisdeadpodcast.com/resources-white-women-killed-yoga
Diversity and body positivity advocates within Yoga and Wellness
https://www.sos-senseofself.com/programs
https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/yoga-for-every-body-4-yogis-re-defining-the-practice-in-america
Health At Every Size Australia: https://haesaustraliainc.wildapricot.org
BIPOC and LBQTI+ Meditation and/or Somatic Practice Teachers
https://culturalsomaticsuniversity.thinkific.com/collections
https://selfishactivist.com/cultural-somatics/
https://transformativechange.org/founder/
Indigenous Australia and Yoga
Acknowlegement of Country with Eve White Podcast Episode: https://www.corageroux.com/podcastepisodes/episode42
https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Yoga-in-Australia-is-different.pdf
https://www.yogazeit.com.au/improved-social-and-emotional-wellbeing-in-aboriginal-children/
Trauma or Mental Health Informed and Community Care Resources
https://www.collectivebeing.org
http://jobuick.com/resources-1
https://thenapministry.wordpress.com/about/
https://www.iliveinbalance.com
Listen
https://onbeing.org/programs/resmaa-menakem-notice-the-rage-notice-the-silence/
Dr Robin DiAngelo discusses White Fragility
https://forthewild.world/listen/tricia-hersey-on-rest-as-resistance-185
Read
My Grandmothers Hands , Resmaa Menakem
White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo
How To Be Anti-Racist, Ibrahim X
Decolonizing Solidarity: Dilemmas and Directions for Supporters of Indigenous Struggles, Clare Land
The Way of Tenderness ; Awakening Through Race, Sexuality and Gender,
Zenju Earthlyn Manuel
Skill in Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga to Create a Just World. Michelle Johnson